Residents of the Moruca sub-district in Region One say that the special measures, including a lockdown, instituted in the area by the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) to curb the spread of COVID-19 are long overdue even as they called on government to support vulnerable persons by providing food and other supplies due to the expected impact.
Following the spikes in COVID-19 infections in the Moruca sub-district and Aranka/Arangoy Landing, in Region Seven, the government on Friday announced that no one will be allowed in or out of the two areas until July 16th. Although the gazetted measures stipulate that the restrictions are in place for one month, the Department of Public Information (DPI) yesterday published a report which said no one would be allowed in and out of the areas from July 6 to August 3 and that mass testing would be conducted in both areas. Regional authorities were not aware of the expansion.
Under the gazetted special emergency measures, the Joint services have been tasked with coordinating, mobilising and securing quarantine and isolation facilities, materials and goods at those sites and manning screening and test checkpoints as well as providing escort for mobile teams. Mask wearing is also among several mandatory measures that have been instituted.
Santa Rosa, Kwebanna and Waramuri are the only three villages in the Moruca sub-district that have known cases of coronavirus. The Santa Rosa Village Council had made several attempts to lockdown the community since the first case of COVID-19 was recorded on March 11th. However, Toshao Whanita Phillips said that none of the previous lockdowns were successful due to persons not believing that the disease was real and so they continued to flout the guidelines established by the village council.
Now, there are at least 81 confirmed cases of the disease in the sub-district.
Despite the fact that a few still don’t believe in the existence of the disease, many are alarmed at the continuous increase in coronavirus cases and have welcomed the new measures, which came into effect on Friday. They say that the measures are long overdue and should have been implemented when there were only a few cases of COVID-19 in the district.
Speaking to Sunday Stabroek via telephone yesterday, a resident of Santa Rosa, who asked not to be named, stated that the lockdown and new measures should have been implemented four weeks ago. He noted that the ministry had announced two weeks ago that it would implement new measures and many were expecting those measures within two to three days following the announcement. In any case, he is looking forward to enforcement of the measures by the police and he added that persons who are caught in breach should be charged and fined. “For those persons breaking the rules, they should be charged and fined because they are putting their own lives and other people’s lives at risk,” he stated.
He added that the policemen who were placed in quarantine have all tested negative so they are back at work. However, he revealed, several passenger boats left the Kumaka port yesterday morning, leaving persons to wonder why they were allowed to depart and without an authorisation from the Public Health Minister, given that the lockdown is in effect.
Addressing this issue, Deputy Regional Chairman Sarah Browne stated that even if the boats left the area without the knowledge of the police, Coast Guards stationed on the Pomeroon River will have to deal with the situation.
Day to day
Browne, who is also a resident of Santa Rosa, said that she supports the lockdown and the new measures instituted by the ministry but believes that a system should also be put in place so that vulnerable or affected persons can be assisted.
“The fact that they’re doing it now, when we have 74 cases, is worrying. They should’ve had a lockdown when we had a first couple of cases to flatten the curve. It’s [the lockdown] necessary. However, there needs to be support for persons because there aren’t a lot of jobs in Moruca and a lot of persons have approached me because they are worried as to what will happen when the lockdown is enforced. There are persons who depend on the mines, that’s how they live, and have no other source of income. There are persons who depend on vending, they live day to day with whatever profit they make. What will happen to those persons?” she added.
Additionally, she stated that aside from the support that persons have received from private organisations, the community has never received any assistance from the government. She noted that the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs donated several food hampers to the Civil Defence Commission to be distributed to the residents of Santa Rosa but added that smaller villages like Waramuri and Kwebanna are also affected.
Meanwhile, Joseph James said that he welcomes the lockdown and hopes that it will help curb the spread of the disease. However, like Browne, he believes that the government should support the families that will be severely affected by the disease and the lockdown.
His statements were echoed by another resident, Debide Williams, who revealed that he is infected with the disease and is in isolation. Williams stated that given the alarming increase of COVID-19 cases in the sub-district, the lockdown and new measures are necessary.
“I would advise my fellow residents of Moruca to take the necessary precautionary measures and to those people who do not believe that [there is no] COVID in Moruca, I would like to say that COVID is real and it is in Moruca and I’m asking you not to doubt because you are going to put other persons at risk if you do not adhere by the new measures,” Williams stated.
Williams, who is asymptomatic, added that persons would not like it if they have to be isolated away from their family. “It is not nice,” he stated as he once again pleaded for residents to adhere to the restrictions. “I know it is going to be hard for many people who live day to day but I think that they should make that sacrifice so we can get through this thing. It’s not really nice for us to be in this situation and right now I’m in isolation. I tried taking all the necessary precautions but I’m still here,” he said.
Checkpoints
Meanwhile, the Department of Public Information (DPI) yesterday reported that Region Seven’s authorities have moved to implement more stringent measures to deal with and monitor COVID-19 in the region.
Among them is a checkpoint for COVID-19 screening for individuals seeking to pass through the Sherima Crossing, on the Essequibo River.
“All individuals entering must first report to the checkpoint, with a valid form of identification, provide the officers with relevant information and subject themselves to a temperature test,” the report said.
It added that according to the Regional Democratic Council (RDC), the checkpoint will be operated by the staff of the Department of Health, with support from officers attached to the Guyana Police Force and will be located towards the front of the police station.
Similar checkpoints have also been established at the Bartica Ferry Stelling, Karrau Creek and Iteballi Landing.
Sherima Crossing is said to be a crucial link between mining areas in Region Seven and Eight. The Aranka mining area in Region Seven accounts for most of the cases in the region.
The report also said that in the Upper Mazaruni area, toshaos along with the Task Force of Kamarang will effect a lockdown from July 11th to August 7th. This lockdown applies to Paruima, Kamarang, Imbaimadai, Phillipai and Chi Chi airstrips. As a result, non-residents will not be allowed to travel to the Upper Mazaruni area.
Regional Health Officer (RHO) of Region Seven Dr. Edward Sagala said that given the current situation in the region, all the measures are most welcomed. “Any common-sense measures taken aimed at stopping or reducing further spread of this deadly scourge must be welcomed […] we are talking about people’s lives!” Dr. Sagala was quoted as saying.
